Complete responses in Phase I trial of crizotinib in rare childhood cancer

A pill designed to zero in on abnormal genes that drive specific cancers has produced encouraging early results in children with an uncommon but aggressive type of lymphoma, as well as in children with a rare form of neuroblastoma.

A Phase I clinical trial of the drug crizotinib, under development at global pharma giant Pfizer (NYSE: PFE), achieved remissions, with minimal side effects, for 10 of the children participating in a clinical study carried out by the multicenter Children's Oncology Group (COG). Crizotinib, sold under the brand name Xalkori, is approved to treat non-small cell lung cancer in patients with a specific gene mutation known as ALK. The results were "an exciting proof-of-principle" for the targeted treatment, said the study leader, Yael Mosse, a pediatric oncologist at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, USA.

Dr Mosse presented study findings at a press program organized by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in advance of its annual meeting in early June. In addition, the society selected the research for its Best of ASCO program following the meeting, and has announced that Dr Mosse will be the first recipient of its James B Nachman ASCO Junior Faculty Award in Pediatric Oncology.